Keighley Sport
New boy Parata set for Cougars debut
11:08am Thursday 26th January 2012
Matt Parata has become the latest signing to join Cougars ahead of their return to the Championship.
Player-coach Jason Demetriou has already recruited a raft of high-profile players since securing promotion in his first season at Cougar Park.
Now Parata, a former junior Kiwi who has previously played for Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks, has arrived to strengthen their ranks further.
A centre-cum-winger who was players’ player of the year for Cronulla in 2010 in the NSW Cup, Parata has represented Italy in their recent World Cup qualifiers, holds an Italian passport and has come to England to try to earn a Super League contract.
The new capture is poised to feature in tomorrow night’s friendly at home to Bradford Bulls (7.30pm).
Demetriou, who has vowed to put out a full-strength side for the visit of their Super League neighbours, is delighted with the acquisition.
He said: “I’m extremely happy to have Matt on board as he has strengthened our three-quarter line and we now have strong competition in every position on the field.
“I am playing a full-strength squad tomorrow night and it will be the first time our supporters will see all our new signings on the field together.
“Pre-season is heating up now and the players are really pushing to get themselves in the squad and, as the coach, I will be looking for us to tighten up and pick up our intensity.
“We are all getting excited, as the start of the Northern Rail Cup is just over two weeks away and the competition for places is sure to bring the best out of the players.”
Demetriou is relishing tomorrow’s clash with Mick Potter’s side, adding: “I’ve had discussions with Ryan Duckett, the Bulls chief executive, and he’s spoken to Mick Potter, and it looks like they are going to put out a pretty strong team.
“From our own point of view it will be the first time we’ve put out our first-choice side during pre-season and it’s a big test for us.”
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